Four by-elections were held on Wednesday. The ANC successfully defended three of the seats but suffered a seatback in Thaba Chweu, where it lost its seat to the African United Movement (AUM).
The ANC easily defended two seats in the Eastern Cape. In Engcobo in the eastern reaches of the Eastern Cape the party faced little resistance, managing over 90% of the vote in Wednesday’s poll: a similar result to what it achieved in last year’s local government election.
In Intsika Yethu (Cofimvaba) it was a similar tale, with the ANC securing over 90% of the vote, compared to the 82% it won in last year’s municipal poll.
The two other by-elections were held in Mpumalanga.
In the Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme (Volksrust) in southern Mpumalanga the ANC won just over 60% of the vote. The African People’s Movement managed over 30% of the vote in the by-election, compared to the 6.5% it won in the seat in November.
The ANC lost a seat in the fourth by-election held on Wednesday. In Thaba Chweu (Mashishing) the ANC saw the African United Movement snatch the seat away. While the ANC had won nearly 80% of the vote in the ward in last year’s local government election, on Wednesday it managed just over a third of the vote, while the AUM won nearly 50%. The EFF was third with 15%.
The African United Movement was represented by a former ANC councillor, Paul Mokgosinyane. The AUM now holds two seats on the 27-seat council. The ANC is still easily the majority party, with 15 seats. The DA holds six seats, the EFF three, and the FF+ one.
Overall, the ANC will be fairly satisfied with the result, and its support remains rock solid in the Eastern Cape.